Holiday Stress

The holidays are just around the corner and with them brings a multitude of stresses. Wether it’s family strain, not enough time, lack of money or just the general sense of feeling overwhelmed, the holidays can do a number on us and leave us feeling not so jolly. Here are some tips from IoTM to help prevent holiday stress and depression:

1. Stick to a budget- Decide how much you can spend on food and gifts and stick to that budget.
2. Plan ahead- Figure out specific days for shopping, baking and visiting friends and family. Plan menus and make shopping lists.
3. Be realistic- You can be everything to everyone and everything doesn’t have to be perfect.
4. Don’t abandon healthy habits- Don’t let the holidays become a free-for-all. Continue to eat healthy snacks, get plenty of sleep and work out.
5. Take a breather- Spending just 15 minutes by yourself may refresh you enough to handle   everything you need to do. GO GET A MASSAGE!!

Your last chance to begin classes at IoTM in 2012 is the week of November 12th. A degree from IoTM will assist you in obtaining a lucrative new career as a massage therapist, a flexible new work schedule and many relaxing massages along the way! All these things can lead to more enjoyable holidays in the future. Call, go online or stop by today and get started on your way to relaxation!


Call: 866-897-0949
Go Online: www.iotm.edu
Stop by: 311 E. Market Street on the 3rd floor in Downtown Lima

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

Form, Mold & Shape Your Future Career

This past week, 17 students graduated from the Institute of Therapeutic Massage. They were very excited and full of promise and hope for their futures. During their time with us, these students formed, shaped and molded their massage careers by choosing from many advanced massage courses, or Career Enhancement classes (CEU), that we offer. These classes will benefit our new grads by helping them determine what area of massage they want to work in and what area they will work best in. These classes also give them a competitive advantage over other applicants vying for jobs. IoTM grads will be able to boast to potential employers and clients their pediatric massage certification or stone facial massage certification, for example.

The Institute of Therapeutic Massage is the only school in the state of Ohio who offers these Career Enhancement classes. This is yet another example of how we strive to help our students prepare themselves for their future careers. Some of our more popular CEU courses include: chair massage, hot stone body massage, infant massage, pregnancy massage, reflexology and sports massage. You can select from 30 different Career Enhancement classes from both medical and spa modalities and you can also choose 100 hours of CEU classes as part of your curriculum at no extra cost.

We hope you take advantage of these courses, like our new graduates have! At IoTM, YOU have the capability to form, mold and shape your future massage career into what YOU want it to be!! Your future is truly in your hands at the Institute of Therapeutic Massage.

Our CEU classes are listed on our website here.

Our CEU schedule can be found here

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

Be Happy and Be Lucrative

Most Massage Therapists will tell you they are very happy and satisfied with their job. They will say it is a very rewarding career because they have the opportunity to help people with stressful, demanding lives to relax and help relieve pain from those with arthritis, cancer and chronic pain, to name a few. Massage Therapists will also acknowledge they love their flexible work schedule and hours. They will also tell you that it is hard work, but because of the  personal satisfaction they gain, it is well worth it.

Some LMT’s will say they are not in it for the money, but massage therapy can be financially rewarding and we all have to earn a living, so we wanted to share with you some of the highest paid massage therapy jobs.
•The highest paid overall is the self-employed massage therapist. Overhead costs will reduce net pay, but the self-employed therapist will receive the full amount of their therapy sessions. 
•The Reflexology Specialist is on average the highest paid massage therapist for those  working for an employer. The Reflexology technique uses gentle pressure on the hands and feet based on zones to improve corresponding organs and body parts. 
•A massage therapist can also earn a lucrative career working with a Physical Therapist. The Physical Therapist Assistant helps patients regain physical function or experience pain  reduction. 
•For those who want to inspire others and help shape future LMT’s, they can become a  Massage Therapy Instructor and earn a great living while doing so. Speak with the IOTM  instructors and they will tell you they love their job!
•If working in an athletic environment is for you then become a Sports Massage Therapist. This job would require the massage therapist to massage athletes before, during or after a sports event and it also pays well.

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

Dreaming of Starting a Massage Business? Take This Advice!

Beginning your own massage business is a dream of many massage students and new graduates. It takes hard work, dedication and a little extra know-how to launch a successful business, especially in today’s economy. The fact is that over 50% of new businesses fail in the first five years. Also, many massage businesses may not fail completely, but unfortunately, some massage therapists will not be successful at achieving their desired income. Here are a few pointers to get you started!
Create a business plan that works for your situation. Make a list of your business goals from every angle you can think of. Expenses, location, growth plans, five and ten year goals, personal goals, financial goals and ideas on how to get an edge over competitors are good places to start. Once there is a solid business plan in place, you will be better positioned for success.
Be sure to have enough capital. This is crucial. You will have many expenses before you even do your first massage; equipment, space, marketing, etc. 

Marketing your business is so important. Marketing is kind of like a massage student 
working on a muscle, but does not know what the muscle does. Until they learn the anatomy, they will not know how to work it properly. Some of the best marketing methods include;  newsletters, business cards, gift certificates and referral systems. The best way is with a website with solid search engine optimization in place, so be sure to hire a professional web designer or study SEO standards if you’re creating your own.
Don’t limit yourself or your potential. The thing that prevents you from seeing opportunities around you is not realizing your full potential. Don’t limit yourself when it comes to money, marketing abilities and how good you are at performing your job! Becoming aware of what it is inside you that may be holding you back is not easy. Discuss your business plan and what you have actually achieved from the business plan with someone you trust, and they may be able to give you some insight.
Staring your own massage business is difficult, but a solid plan will go a long way in helping you obtain your goals and become successful!

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

New Bureau of Labor Statistics for Massage Therapy

According to new reports, published this past April, suggests a surge in the job outlook and employment opportunities for Licensed Massage Therapists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Massage Therapists is expected to grow by 20 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. Continued growth in the demand for massage services will lead to new openings for Massage Therapists*.

What this means for you...
The projected number of jobs added, according to the BLS, will be
approximately 30, 900 over those 10 years and YOU could fill one of those positions and be in demand!

What could be better than beginning a rewarding new career AND receiving an education?? The Institute of Therapeutic Massage is an excellent choice because our  instructors will thoroughly prepare you for State Board Exams AND your future career. Please fill out the form above or CLICK HERE and learn how you can begin your education at IOTM and help secure your position with a career in Massage Therapy TODAY!

*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-2013 Edition, Massage Therapists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/massage-therapists.htm (visited May 30, 2012).

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

IOTM.EDU EVERYTHING & MORE!!

Have you browsed our website lately?? If not, you're missing out on a great deal of useful information! Check out the following links...

Our Campus: Tour our campus! You'll also see in the menu, a link to "Student Life". Check out some great pictures and see what it's like at IOTM!

Career Enhancements: Take a gander at our selection of advanced courses which will give you a competitive advantage while you are job hunting after graduation. As an IOTM student, you can choose 100 hours of Career Enhancements as part of your tuition. Students from other massage schools transfer to IOTM for these specialized classes, as they are not offered at any other massage school in Ohio!

Staff: Learn all about our Instructors and their advanced training and degrees.

Alumni: Search our database of LMT's in the area! Our graduates are now practicing massage all over Ohio and even in other states!

Catalog: Glance at our class listings and learn a wealth of other information by viewing our Current Course Catalog. Also listed in the menu is our "Program Schedule". Here, you will find start and end dates and other calendar information.

Forms: This page has everything you need to get started at IOTM. Enrollment application, personal references, high school transcript form, etc.

Approvals: IOTM is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, or ABHES. ABHES has very strict standards to which they hold our school's institution, as well as our program. Learn all about ABHES and visit our "Consumer Information" page which speaks on our standards of satisfactory academic progress.

Useful Resources: There is a plethora of information on this page, including links to massage and employment resources and some area businesses which employ our graduates! Under "Useful Resources" you will also find a link to "Request Information", an "FAQ" page, our "IOTM Blog" and a "Net Price Calculator", where you can calculate an estimate the cost of your education, as well as how much Financial Aid you may receive.

You'll find all this AND MORE on our wegsite at iotm.edu! Be sure to visit our website often, as IOTM is constantly evolving and trying to make your learning experience the best we can!

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

Graduate Profile: Kristi Bowling

Kristi Bowling was afraid of going back to school in her 30's, but she now realizes it was one of the best decisions she has ever made. Shortly after graduating from the Institute of Therapeutic Massage, Kristi moved to Escanaba, Michigan. She is now surrounded by Massage Therapists who did not receive the excellent training that she did at IOTM. “It amazes me the difference in schooling from Ohio to Michigan. My schooling and hands-on training has proven to give me a leg up on the other therapists in the area,” she proudly says now.

Kristi works for Atlas Chiropractic, owned by Dr. Hubert, who recently upgraded his office and gave Kristi her own massage room and a raise! She feels Dr. Huburt considers her an equal and asks her to consult with patients who he feels may have muscular issues, including a patient who lost her voice for over six months. Dr. Huburt recognized that she may have an anterior neck issue and Kristi found that her hyoid bone was being pulled out of place by muscle tension and was blocking her voice box. The patient had her voice back in two massages! Kristi also adds, “Needless to say, I love my job and I am grateful for the education I received from IOTM.”

Kristi is just one of our many graduates who has found success in the field of Massage Therapy. The path to your future starts with a great education. Imagine where your degree can take you!

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

IOTM Open House!!

We will be hosting an Open House on Saturday, March 10th from noon until 4:00 PM. Our full staff will be present to answer any questions you have and help get you started down the path to your new career! IOTM's Financial Aid Administrator will also be available to help guide you in the FASFA process. Don't miss out on this exciting occasion to tour our campus, meet our instructors and learn from some great speakers we will have on hand. 

IOTM is pleased to announce that our featured guest speaker will be Jonathan Turner, owner of Massage Envy in Columbus, Ohio. Jonathan is searching for qualified Massage Therapists to work in his establishment and you will be able to ask Jonathan what he looks for in an employee. He is very knowledgeable in the area of massage and will be fielding any questions you may have. We are very fortunate to have Jonathan speak at our school... so please take advantage of this amazing opportunity!! 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
What?        IOTM OPEN HOUSE

Where?     IOTM Lima Campus
                    311 East Market Street
                    311 Building (next to the railroad tracks)                 
                    3^rd Floor

When?      March 10^th from 12:00-4:00 PM

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T

Earn More & Work Less!

Sadie Nardini, a self-acclaimed “Life Stylist” encourages her clients to,”think huge, small and medium have a lot of competition”. Great advise for those of us looking to make a career change. Working long hours and for little pay, Nadine eventually decided to post online videos to You Tube. She currently has 25,000 subscribers and is now a successful wellness counselor. Like Nadine, many of us are searching for a career that sustains us financially and provides us flexibility and fulfillment.

According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), most massage therapists work under 27 hours per week. Massage Therapist Jenny Adams, who has practiced massage for 20 years outlines her career: “I get to wear comfy clothes, set my own hours and work with wonderful people. Most days I see three to four clients, which leaves me plenty of time for other things.” AND the best part is, a typical massage therapist's earning potential is $60 to $100 per hour!

Nadine and Jenny are just a couple of examples of how you can maximize your career financially and increase your job satisfaction. Start your new rewarding career off on the right foot by enrolling at the Institute of Therapeutic Massage today. Call 1.866.897.0949 or visit our website and fill out our online form today!

Ohio State School Registration #02-0520-1636T